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Residents

PROPERTY PROTECTION:

In January 2005, a new state law became
effective that extended the defensible space clearance around homes and
structures from 30 feet to 100 feet. Proper clearance to 100 feet dramatically
increases the chance of your house surviving a wildfire. This defensible space
also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a wildland
fire.

Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches.
However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches.

Plant and Tree Spacing:
The spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees is crucial to reduce the spread of
wildfires. The spacing needed is determined by the type and size of brush and
trees, as well as the slope of the land. For example, a property on a steep
slope with larger vegetation requires greater spacing between trees and shrubs
than a level property that has small, sparse vegetation.

Vertical Spacing:
Remove all tree branches at least 6 feet from the ground.

Allow extra vertical space between shrubs and trees. Lack of vertical space can
allow a fire to move from the ground to the brush to the tree tops like a
ladder.

Horizontal Spacing:

Horizontal spacing depends on the slope of the land and the height of the
shrubs or trees.

FIRE-SAFE Landscaping:

Fire-safe landscaping isn’t necessarily the same thing as a well-maintained
yard. Fire-safe landscaping uses fire-resistant
plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to
your home.

The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make
your landscape fire-safe. And fire-safe landscaping can increase your property
value and conserve water while beautifying your home.